UNI Spirit Squads take awards at summer competition<br>

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Members of the University of Northern Iowa Spirit Squad recently attended the Universal Cheer and Dance Association (UCA/UDA) College Spirit Camp and Competition in Milwaukee, and received awards for program improvement and overall preparation.

The Spirit Squad is made up of the UNI cheer squad, dance team and mascots. The UCA/UDA camp is the largest college camp of its kind in the world and hosts more than 1,500 cheerleaders, dancers and mascots from the United States and Puerto Rico.

The cheer squad was awarded third place in the sideline competition and received UCA's first-ever Game Day Award for innovative game-day agendas.

The dancers were awarded the Program Improvement trophy and a Superior Rating trophy for overall performance.

The mascots were awarded fourth place for overall performance. This is the first time UNI mascots have received this award.

The UNI Spirit Squads are advised by Ryan McKernan. The UNI Dance Team is coached by Jori Wade-Booth. For more information, visit www.unipanthers.com/spirit.